Buzzcocks
Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton, Greater Mancheste… Read Full Bio ↴Buzzcocks are an English punk rock band formed in Bolton, Greater Manchester, UK in 1976, led by singer-songwriter and guitarist Pete Shelley (1955 – 2018) for nearly their entire existence.
They are commonly regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement and the punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock genres in general. They are primarily remembered for their singles, a string of would-be hits that combined a strong grasp of pop song craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy. These singles were collected on Singles Going Steady, described by critic Ned Raggett as a "punk masterpiece" The widely covered "Ever Fallen in Love?" remains one of their best-known songs.
The name "Buzzcocks" partially comes from the Manchester slang term cock meaning youngster, and its use in the 1970s ITV drama serial Rock Follies which included the catch phrases "that's the buzz, cocks" and "give me a buzz, cock!"
Buzzcocks were one of the key first generation British punk rock bands to form in the wake of the Sex Pistols in 1976. They were founded by Mancunians Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto, however Devoto left soon after the group released their Spiral Scratch EP (on their own independent label), leaving Shelley to take over vocals.
They are best known for their catchy, poppy punk sound, which has been widely influential, which was adopted as Peter Shelley took over on the vocals, singing about what the whole punk rock scene opted not to sing about: love. Devoto in the meanwhile formed Magazine.
They rehearsed in a friend's kitchen and played at the all-day 100 club punk "festival", in London. At the end of 1977 the band signed to United Artists and released "Orgasm Addict", with Shelley's high-pitched vocal delivery and Ramones-esque fuzz-guitar sound ensuring the controversial single would be played over again. Later came "What Do I Get?" which hit the UK charts and showed Shelley's brilliance in songwriting.
An LP was then released, Another Music in a Different Kitchen which came with its own carrier bag, labelled "Product". In 1978-79 five chart-hitting singles were released including "Ever Fallen in Love?" and had captured a pop-loving audience by this time. Love Bites, their second LP was released later on, which had less excitement than the last album, though it did sell well, with Steve Diggle taking over lyric-writing.
October 1979 saw A Different Kind of Tension which was panned by some critics, quite unfairly, as it contains some excellent songs, the title track being the stand-out. It perhaps suffered from being the second album to be released that year, with the record company keen to capitalise on the band's chart success at the time.
3 more singles followed in 1980, but the spark had clearly gone out for a while. Musical differences and the long slog behind them led to the band splitting in early 1981. Pete Shelley embarked in a solo career..
He released three dance/electronic influenced solo albums: Homosapien, XL1 and Heaven and The Sea - all with the same fine songwriting skills. Meanwhile, Steve Diggle formed Flag of Convenience - a power pop combo - and toured with some success.
A 5 album/CD set was released in 1989 called Product, which contained all the albums to date, plus the greatest hits and B sides album, Singles Going Steady, and the last non-album singles, Why She's A Girl From the Chainstore, Airwaves Dream and Running Free, plus the B sides
In 1992 the Buzzcocks reformed, without original drummer John Maher and bassist Steve Garvey, and releasd Trade Test Transmissions in 1993, quite different from their earlier material, with nods to the power pop scene popular at the time. All Set in 1996 saw a return to form with familiar riffs and pin sharp lyrics pop-punk. Next year Chronology was released, the missing album, including outtakes from the three United Artists albums. In 1999 they released Modern, which saw Shelley in reflective mode and Steve Diggle taking over more of the vocal duties.
Then followed another brief break in 2000, with Shelley teaming up with old band-mate Howard Devoto to release a largely disappointing album, Buzzkunst. Compilations followed, including Inventory in 2003, which contained every single to date, and 30 in 2005 to celebrate 30 years performing
2005 saw the Buzzcocks back touring and in 2007 they released the superb Flat Pack Philosophy, widely agreed to rank up with the best of Buzzcocks output
2008/9 saw a short tour where the band played tracks from Another Music and Love Bites.
In August 2011 they headlined the first night of The Rhythm Festival in Bedfordshire.
In November 2011 it was announced they would be playing two shows in 2012 that would feature the original line-up as well as the classic line-up of the band reunited for the first time in many years; these shows took place on 25 May 2012 in Manchester at the O2 Apollo and on 26 May in Brixton at the O2 Academy. It was announced on 26 May 2012 that, for the first time, they would headline Thursday night in the Empress Ballroom at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool sharing the stage with the likes of Rancid, Public Image Limited and Social Distortion.
On 1 May 2014 Buzzcocks released the album The Way via PledgeMusic. On 13 September 2014 Buzzcocks played "a brief but triumphant set" at Riot Fest 2014 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. In October 2014 Buzzcocks toured the U.K. for three weeks with The Dollyrots as main support.
In 2016, the band embarked on their 40th-anniversary tour (dubbed "Buzzcocks 40"). In 2017, "Why Can't I Touch It" was featured in the opening segment of the Telltale game 'Guardians of the Galaxy.
Buzzcocks continue to be a huge influence on many bands and are still enjoyed by a large, and very loyal, fanbase.
Pete Shelley died on 6 December 2018.
They are commonly regarded as an important influence on the Manchester music scene, the independent record label movement and the punk rock, power pop, pop punk and indie rock genres in general. They are primarily remembered for their singles, a string of would-be hits that combined a strong grasp of pop song craftsmanship with rapid-fire punk energy. These singles were collected on Singles Going Steady, described by critic Ned Raggett as a "punk masterpiece" The widely covered "Ever Fallen in Love?" remains one of their best-known songs.
The name "Buzzcocks" partially comes from the Manchester slang term cock meaning youngster, and its use in the 1970s ITV drama serial Rock Follies which included the catch phrases "that's the buzz, cocks" and "give me a buzz, cock!"
Buzzcocks were one of the key first generation British punk rock bands to form in the wake of the Sex Pistols in 1976. They were founded by Mancunians Pete Shelley and Howard Devoto, however Devoto left soon after the group released their Spiral Scratch EP (on their own independent label), leaving Shelley to take over vocals.
They are best known for their catchy, poppy punk sound, which has been widely influential, which was adopted as Peter Shelley took over on the vocals, singing about what the whole punk rock scene opted not to sing about: love. Devoto in the meanwhile formed Magazine.
They rehearsed in a friend's kitchen and played at the all-day 100 club punk "festival", in London. At the end of 1977 the band signed to United Artists and released "Orgasm Addict", with Shelley's high-pitched vocal delivery and Ramones-esque fuzz-guitar sound ensuring the controversial single would be played over again. Later came "What Do I Get?" which hit the UK charts and showed Shelley's brilliance in songwriting.
An LP was then released, Another Music in a Different Kitchen which came with its own carrier bag, labelled "Product". In 1978-79 five chart-hitting singles were released including "Ever Fallen in Love?" and had captured a pop-loving audience by this time. Love Bites, their second LP was released later on, which had less excitement than the last album, though it did sell well, with Steve Diggle taking over lyric-writing.
October 1979 saw A Different Kind of Tension which was panned by some critics, quite unfairly, as it contains some excellent songs, the title track being the stand-out. It perhaps suffered from being the second album to be released that year, with the record company keen to capitalise on the band's chart success at the time.
3 more singles followed in 1980, but the spark had clearly gone out for a while. Musical differences and the long slog behind them led to the band splitting in early 1981. Pete Shelley embarked in a solo career..
He released three dance/electronic influenced solo albums: Homosapien, XL1 and Heaven and The Sea - all with the same fine songwriting skills. Meanwhile, Steve Diggle formed Flag of Convenience - a power pop combo - and toured with some success.
A 5 album/CD set was released in 1989 called Product, which contained all the albums to date, plus the greatest hits and B sides album, Singles Going Steady, and the last non-album singles, Why She's A Girl From the Chainstore, Airwaves Dream and Running Free, plus the B sides
In 1992 the Buzzcocks reformed, without original drummer John Maher and bassist Steve Garvey, and releasd Trade Test Transmissions in 1993, quite different from their earlier material, with nods to the power pop scene popular at the time. All Set in 1996 saw a return to form with familiar riffs and pin sharp lyrics pop-punk. Next year Chronology was released, the missing album, including outtakes from the three United Artists albums. In 1999 they released Modern, which saw Shelley in reflective mode and Steve Diggle taking over more of the vocal duties.
Then followed another brief break in 2000, with Shelley teaming up with old band-mate Howard Devoto to release a largely disappointing album, Buzzkunst. Compilations followed, including Inventory in 2003, which contained every single to date, and 30 in 2005 to celebrate 30 years performing
2005 saw the Buzzcocks back touring and in 2007 they released the superb Flat Pack Philosophy, widely agreed to rank up with the best of Buzzcocks output
2008/9 saw a short tour where the band played tracks from Another Music and Love Bites.
In August 2011 they headlined the first night of The Rhythm Festival in Bedfordshire.
In November 2011 it was announced they would be playing two shows in 2012 that would feature the original line-up as well as the classic line-up of the band reunited for the first time in many years; these shows took place on 25 May 2012 in Manchester at the O2 Apollo and on 26 May in Brixton at the O2 Academy. It was announced on 26 May 2012 that, for the first time, they would headline Thursday night in the Empress Ballroom at the Rebellion Festival in Blackpool sharing the stage with the likes of Rancid, Public Image Limited and Social Distortion.
On 1 May 2014 Buzzcocks released the album The Way via PledgeMusic. On 13 September 2014 Buzzcocks played "a brief but triumphant set" at Riot Fest 2014 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. In October 2014 Buzzcocks toured the U.K. for three weeks with The Dollyrots as main support.
In 2016, the band embarked on their 40th-anniversary tour (dubbed "Buzzcocks 40"). In 2017, "Why Can't I Touch It" was featured in the opening segment of the Telltale game 'Guardians of the Galaxy.
Buzzcocks continue to be a huge influence on many bands and are still enjoyed by a large, and very loyal, fanbase.
Pete Shelley died on 6 December 2018.
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Buzzcocks Lyrics
02. Ever Fallen in Love You spurn my natural emotions You make me feel I'm dirt…
16 You know I don't like dancin' An' I don't like to…
16 Again Feeling like I'm almost sixteen again Layin' 'round doing no…
369 I guess it's not my lucky day today Oh, well, you've…
A Different Kind Of Tension Wait here, go there Come in, stay out Be yourself, be someon…
Addict Well, you tried it just for once found it all…
Air Waves Dream This is to you receiver An important item we say Nobody wi…
Airwaves Dream This is to you receiver An important item we say Nobody will…
Alive Tonight Ahh, ahh, ahh - tonight Ahh, ahh Object movers have done not…
All Over You I'm a poor man deep in my pocket But in my…
Are Everything Your looks, my charm My own imagination My loves, your hates…
Autonomy It's a thing that's worth having Yes I would Buys you your…
Back With You You help me sing my song Now it's easy to carry…
Between Heaven And Hell They say the best things in life are free But now…
Big Brother Wheels Standing around staring into space Trying to see what's goin…
Big Dummy You think I'm a lame duck I don't give a blue…
Boredom Well I say what I mean I say what comes to…
Boredom (Demo) Yeah, well, I say what I mean I say what comes…
Breakdown If I seem a little jittery I can't restrain myself I'm…
Certain Move It's such a certain move Don't throw it right back on…
Choices Indecision just can't make up my mind Is there a solution…
Credit Paradise is a platinum card Behind the wheel of your car Wit…
Crystal Night I read the news, you saw the headlines I know your…
Do It Here again playing the lonely game Blind as a fool who…
Don Reality's a dream A game in which I seem to never…
Don't Know What to Do With My Life I don't know what to do with my life Should I…
Don't Mess Me 'Round Gonna have to cut you down to size You're running out…
dont know what to do with my life I don't know what to do with my life Should I…
Dreamin Dreamin', am I dreamin'? Try as hard as I can I…
Driving You Insane It's a blur It's a slur As you were It's a thing all…
Drop in the Ocean Lester Sands has been working very hard Keeping up with what…
E.S.P Do you believe in ESP I do and I'm try'n'a get…
Energy Energy (oh oh) Well in my mind - yeh Energy (oh oh) Wasting…
ESP Do you believe in ESP I do and I'm try'n'a get…
Even Fallen in Love You spurn my natural emotions You make me feel I'm dirt…
Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn You spurn my natural emotions You make me feel I'm dirt And…
Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldn't've) You spurn my natural emotions You make me feel like dirt And…
Ever Fallen in Love (With Someone You Shouldntve You spurn my natural emotions You make me feel I'm dirt And…
Ever Fallen in Love ? You spurn my natural emotions You make me feel I'm dirt…
Ever Fallen In Love...?: With Someone You Shouldn't Have Fallen In Love With You spurn my natural emotions You make me feel I'm dirt And…
Ever Fallen in Love? You spurn my natural emotions You make me feel I'm dirt…
Everybody I was so tired of being upset Always wanting something I…
Everybody’s Happy Nowadays I was so tired of being upset Always wanting something I…
falling in love You spurn my natural emotions You make me feel I'm dirt…
Fast Cars They're nice and precise, each one begins and ends They may…
Fiction Romance A fiction romance I love this love story That never seems to…
Flat-Pack Philosophy I'm cracking up can't take the strain From heaven to hell…
Friends Well I've been up all night Couldn't get to dream at…
Friends Of Mine Rita spits out her laurel leaf And grabs a piece of…
Get On Our Own Honey I saw you yesterday On my way home Baby I craved…
Give It to Me When I look into your eyes I can see the fire…
God What Have I Done Breakfast in the room continental So went to find a small…
Harmony In My Head Whenever I'm in doubt about things I do I listen to…
Hold Me Close You say the world's just going mad I say that things…
Hollow Inside Hollow inside, I was hollow inside But I couldn't find out…
I In these times of contention, it's not my intention to…
I Can't Control Myself Oh no! Baba bababa baba ba ba Baba bababa baba baba I…
I Don Reality's a dream A game in which I seem to never…
I Don't Exist I wonder if you'll notice Exactly how I feel Maybe if we…
I Don't Know I don't know what to do with my life Should I…
I Don't Mind Reality's a dream A game in which I seem to never…
I Don't Mind (2001 Remastered Version) Reality's a dream A game in which I seem To never find…
I DONT MIND Reality's a dream A game in which I seem to never…
I Look Alone I am alone there's nobody there I have some time to…
I Love You More I'm in love again Been like this before I'm in love again Th…
I Love You You Big Dummy You think I'm a lame duck I don't give a blue…
I Need I need I need I need I need I used to only want but…
I've Had Enough This time I've made up my mind I've had enough What…
Innocent I thought you were so innocent Until I got my fingers…
Inside Lots of people talking to you and they know Inside is…
Isolation I'm living my life in a separate way Looking for something…
Jerk Yesterday while feeling down I called you on the phone Inste…
Just Lust There's bed in your eyes but there's nothing there to…
Keep On There's no two ways about it There's nothing left to say I…
Kiss 'N' Tell You should write a book I remember the times You wanted te…
Last To Know Will I be the last to know? I've got this little…
Lester Sands Lester Sands has been working very hard Keeping up with what…
Libertine Angel They don't make the future Like they did in the past Shedd…
Lipstick When you kiss me Does the lipstick on your lip stick…
Look At You Now Don't go acting all innocent It suits you all too much I…
Love Battery My mad love battery - wants to charge you My mad…
Love Is Lies Well I'm going out I'm gonna find myself a lover I'm gonna…
Love You More I'm in love again Been like this before I'm in love again Th…
Mad Mad Judy Mad mad Judy Mad mad girl Mad mad Judy Mad at…
Money What is inside me Is caged here beside me Life is a…
Morning After Sun streams through the window It's another day I lie in bed…
Moving Away From The Pulsebeat You said the things you did in the past Were all…
Never Believe It Hey there you with your head in the sand I'm try'n'a…
No Friend of Mine Rita spits out her laurel leaf And grabs a piece of…
No Reply When I phone you night and day I get no reply,…
Noise Annoys Pretty girls, pretty boys Have you ever heard your mommy say…
Nostalgia I bet that you love me like I love you But…
Nothing Left I'm on my own now You've gone and left me I bet…
Oh Shit Oh shit, I thought you and I were friends Oh shit,…
Operator's Manual Operators manual Tells me what to do When emotions blow a fu…
Orgasm Addict Well, you tried it just for once found it all…
Orgasm Addict (2001 Remastered VersionExplicit) Well you tried it just for once Found it alright for…
Palm of Your Hand It's not so strange you know to feel like this I…
Paradise Where in the world are we Everything's fake nothing's real I…
Paradise (2008 Remastered) Where in the world are we? Everything's fake, nothing's real…
Pariah No one seems to matter anymore Can't get back to normal…
Peking Hooligan You know me cos I hang around the bicycle sheds kicking…
Phone At dinner while watching your favorite soap You'll always re…
Phoné At dinner while watching your favourite soap You'll always r…
Playing for Time [echo] Playing for time, I can see your false face in…
Point of No Return If I could discover One thing or another I doubt if I'll…
Promises Ah, loving you is easy, you are on my side We…
Pulsebeat You said the things you did in the past Were all…
Radio Nine Everybody's happy nowadays Everybody's happy nowadays…
RAISON D You're an awful lot of fun Forever on the run You're my…
Real World I'm in love with the real world It's mutual or so…
Reconciliation Been contemplating lately what you mean to me You are the…
Rendezvous I'd overslept so I caught the bus It's the only thing…
Runaround You send my blood pressure rising You're driving me crazy Yo…
Running Free Here in suburbia There's nothing left to see Just want…
See You Through I'm a poor man deep in my pocket But in my…
Sell You Everything The lights are so bright all the things you wanted Set…
She's A Girl From The Chainstore Why she's a girl from the chainstore Why she's a…
Sick City Sometimes When you don't know who you are And you're walking with…
Sitting You say you don't love me Well that's alright with me…
Sitting Round at Home You say you don't love me Well that's alright with me…
Sixteen You know I don't like dancin' An' I don't like to…
Smile If I never ever ever get to see you again Remember…
Sneaky I sense your indecision You won't make up your mind You're i…
Some Kinda Wonderful The way you are to me I must be blind I…
Something's Gone Wrong Again Tried to find my sock No good, it's lost Something's gone wr…
Somethings Gone Wrong Tried to find my sock No good, it's lost Something's gone …
something´s gone wrong again Tried to find my sock No good, it's lost Something's gone wr…
Soul On A Rock This desolation sweeping over me I find hard to disguise The…
Soul Survivor I'm a soul survivor and I live in a world…
Sound Of A Gun Heading for bad weather Hard rain is gonna come Everybody sh…
Stars He wants to cry until the stars in his eyes…
Strange Thing Strange thing happened one day Someone thought they heard so…
T T T Turn the television on You've been reading too long Turn you…
The Buzzcocks / Ever Fallen In Love You spurn my natural emotions You make me feel I'm dirt…
Thunder Of Hearts Tell me why you looked the other way I've been tired…
Time I been waiting in the supermarket Standing in line with the…
Time's Up I been waiting in the supermarket Standing in line with the…
Time’s Up (Boston 80) I bin waiting in the supermarket standing in line with the…
Totally from the Heart You want more, more than I can deliver I love you…
Trash Away And it's a one more night to trash away And…
Under The Sun I never meant to drive you away I really want you…
Unthinkable Oh, oh, oh, oh, it's unthinkable Oh, oh, oh, oh, it's…
Up for the Crack Talking like you're some big news Now you've got a chance…
Useless Life's full of disappointments Wonder where the good times w…
Wake Up Call Well you live in a dream Life's not what it seems This…
What Am I Supposed to Do You make mistakes when you're twenty one You see it's gone,…
What Do I Get I just want a lover like any other, what do…
What Do I Get? (2001 Remastered Version) "What Do I Get I just want a lover like any…
What Do You Know I don't know what to do with my life Should I…
What Ever Happened To Whatever happened to twin sets? Whatever happened to hi-fi?…
What You Mean to Me There's a road ahead Past a stormy sea There I will return …
Whatever Happened To Whatever happened to twin sets? Whatever happened to hi-fi?…
Whatever Happened To . . . ? What ever happened to twin sets? What ever happened to Hi-fi…
Whatever Happened To... Whatever happened to twin sets? Whatever happened to hi-fi?…
Whatever Happened To...? Whatever happened to twin sets? Whatever happened to hi-fi? …
Whatever Happened To...? (2001 Remastered Version) What ever happened to twin sets? What ever happened to Hi-Fi…
Whatever Happened To? Whatever happened to twin sets? Whatever happened to hi-fi? …
When Love Turn Around You What do you get when love turns around The hate is…
Who Now that your love's not real You leave me lying on…
Why Can Well, it seems so real I can see it And it seems…
Why Can't I Touch It Well, it seems so real I can see it And it seems…
Why Compromise I'm not pretending so don't ask why Your time is coming…
Why She Why she's a girl from the chainstore Why she's a…
Wish I Never Loved You No matter what I try is no good for you Everything…
Without You I'm running out of valuable time Without you Am I a victim…
You Know You Can You know you can't help it when you see thart…
You Say You Don You say you don't love me Well that's alright with me…
You Say You Don't Love Me You say you don't love me Well that's alright with me…
You Tear Me Up Well I know it's the night But have you gotta beat…
Your Love Whenever I feel like this I notice that you are near…